Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010. 

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was born in 1947 in San Juan Manila. She spent her primary and secondary education at the Assumption Convent graduating as high school valedictorian. From 1964 to 1966 she consistently occupied a spot on the Dean’s list at Georgetown University where she took up AB Economics and continued to pursue the same course at Assumption College, graduating as Magna Cum Laude in 1968. She then took up her MA in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1978 and her Ph.D in Economics at UP School of Economics in 1985.

Senator Macapagal Arroyo began her professional career as an assistant professor at Ateneo de Manila University from 1977 to 1987 and professor at UP School of Economics in those same years. She chaired the Economic Department of Assumption College from 1984 to 1987 before assuming the post of Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry from 1989-1992.

Macapagal Arroyo was elected Senator in 1992 and was re-elected in 1995. Together with other Senators, Senator Macapagal Arroyo was instrumental in the passage of the following bills into laws; loans for women and micro-enterprises; the Bank Entry Liberalization Law; the Thrift Bank Act; the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law; the Crop Insurance Law; and the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Science and Technology Personnel in government. From 1998 to 2001, Macapagal Arroyo served as the Vice President of the Philippines, making her the first female Vice President.

After her presidency, Macapagal Arroyo was elected to the House of Representatives and served from 2010 to 2019. In 2018, she was elected to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, making her the first woman to hold the position. In 2022, Macapagal Arroyo was reelected to the House of Representatives and remains in office. She was Senior Deputy speaker from 2022 to 2023.